A novel new approach to underwriting the costs of next generation high speed Internet - fiber to the home while addressing the challenges of reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions and providing new revenue model for service providers.

Executive Summary

One of the significant challenges facing network operators today is the high capital cost of deploying next generation broadband network to individual homes or schools. Fiber to the home only makes economic sense for a relatively small percentage of homes or schools. One solution is a novel new approach under development in several jurisdictions around the world is to bundle the cost of next generation broadband Internet with the deployment of solar panels on the owners roof or through the sale of renewable energy to the homeowner. Rather than charging customers directly for the costs of deployment of thehigh speed broadband network theses costs instead areamortized over several years as a small discount on the customer’s Feed in Tariff (FIT) or renewable energy bill. There are many companies such as Solar City that will fund the entire capital cost of deploying solar panels on the roofs of homes or schools, who in turn make their money from the long term sale of the power from the panels to the electrical grid. In addition there are no Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) and Green Bond Funds that will underwrite the cost of larger installations.

Prior to the arrival of European settlers, the indigenous Ktunaxa people of British Columbia had athriving culture going back 10,000 years. Following more than a century ofabuse and mistreatment at the hands of the Canadian government, however, theKtunaxa's language and culture have been all but eradicated.

Now, innovative uses of cutting-edge broadband and digital recordings oftribal elders are enabling younger members to hear the sounds of thelanguage, giving Ktunaxa leaders hope for its future.

"With no prospect of the infrastructure in our traditional territoryimproving, we took it upon ourselves to develop our own broadband network in order tomake use of these important language-training resources," says Maki.

In March of 2007, the mission was accomplished. The Ktunaxa Nation now hasNorth America's only native-owned open-fiber-to-the-home network, providingspeeds of 100 megabits per second to each home.

"We're now wired like no other community in North America. Everything we dois based on connectivity. Not many people get a chance to change the courseof predicted history, but with hard work and fiber, we will," Maki says.

Matt Wenger writes:

Interesting four part series of articles in PC World highlighting

"groundbreaking broadband uses, and the people who employ the technology to

preserve the past, reshape the future, and fulfill their dreams." To quote

them.

Of particular interest to many of you will be part 2, the feature on the

About Me

Bill St. Arnaud is a R&E Network and Green IT consultant who works with clients on a variety of subjects such as the next generation research and education and Internet networks. He also works with clients to develop practical solutions to reduce GHG emissions such as free broadband and dynamiccharging of eVehicles (See http://green-broadband.blogspot.com/) . View my complete profile